Suzuki Motor vows to hold Indian market share forever

With both Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) and General Motors (NYSE: GM) saying that India is a prime market for future sales, one of the incumbent automakers is saying not so fast. Suzuki Motor Co. of Japan said this week that it firmly intends to keep 50% of the Indian consumer vehicle market "for eternity." Those are pretty strong words, yes?

In that rather long-in-the-tooth announcement, the head of the Japanese automaker said that Suzuki would bolster dealer numbers in that country along with enhancing its auto lineup soon to compete with the likes of new competitors to the region. Suzuki CEO Osamu Suzuki said that, "We can't let newcomers break our 50 percent share that easily. We're going to do everything we can to keep that level for eternity." Suzuki is Japan's largest producer of compact cars, and currently has a little above 50% of the Indian automotive market share.

Suzuki may be able to defend its title also, as it sold more compact cars in India during the first half of 2007 than in Japan -- which is considered a dazzling success. Suzuki, though, will have larger global automotive forces to reckon with in the next few years as bigger auto heavyweights move into the area trying to capitalize on growth in the consumer Indian market.

CEO Suzuki said he was "grateful" for the fierce competition, although he's probably sweating in his boots, which -- at his age of 77 -- could just be an intimidation tactic to other automotive CEOs who dare try to take his market share away.